Iowa Department of Public Safety
Larry L. Noble, Commissioner
215 East 7th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319

Human Bones Determined to be Female Remains

Henry County, IOWA --- On March 17, 2012, at approximately 5:10pm, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a report of possible human remains being found along Old Hwy 34, near the Henry-Jefferson County line.  Two children had been riding their bikes from Lockridge, Iowa to Rome, Iowa when they observed a white object lying in the ditch between the roadway and the railroad tracks.  Upon getting a closer look at the object, the children observed a human skull and immediately notified their parents.

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Division of Criminal Investigation, Mt. Pleasant Police Department and the Henry County Medical Examiner searched the area and discovered human bones.  The remains were examined by the State Medical Examiner’s Office and by a forensic anthropologist.

The results of the anthropologist’s examination determined that the remains were that of a female between the ages of 24 and 32.  In addition, the height of the female was determined to be between 5 feet, 3 inches and 5 feet, 7 inches tall.  The time of death was estimated to be during the summer or early fall of 2011.  The cause of death has not been released at this time.

The remains will now be sent to the DCI’s Crime Lab for DNA testing to possibly develop a DNA profile to aid in the identification of the remains.

For questions, contact Special Agent Jeff Uhlmeyer at 319-759-2541.

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